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Anna rivers, which would force
Lee to abandon the line of those streams, and give to the Army of the Potomac an admirable water base of supplies, at
White House.
1
Sheridan, who, as we have seen,
2 had just returned
to the army after his great raid toward
Richmond and across the head of the
Peninsula, now led the flanking column with two divisions of cavalry, immediately followed by
Wright's corps, leading
Warren's and
Burnside's.
Hancock's remained on the
North Anna until morning,
to cover the rear, at which time the head of the column, after y a march of more than twenty miles, was approaching the
Pamunkey at
Hanovertown, about fifteen miles from
Richmond.
Wright's corps crossed that stream at once, and early on Saturday, the 28th,
the whole army was south of the
Pamunkey, and in communication with its new base at
White House.
Grant's movement summoned
Lee to another compulsory abandonment of a strong position, and he again fell back toward
Richmond.
Having, as usual, the shorter and better way, he was already in a good position to confront the Army of the Potomac before it had reached the
Pamunkey.
He had taken a stand to cover both railways and the chief highways leading into
Richmond, and to dispute the passage of the
Chickahominy.
The only direct pathway to the
Confederate capital, for the Army of the Potomac, was across the
Chickahominy.
Before its passage could be effected,
Lee must be dislodged, and to that task
Grant and
Meade now addressed themselves.
Reconnoissances to ascertain the strength and exact position of the Confederate army, were put in motion.
Sheridan was sent out southward on the afternoon of the 28th, with the brigades of
Davis,
Gregg, and
Custer.
At
Hawes's store, not far from the
Tolopatomoy Creek, they encountered and vanquished cavalry under
Hampton and
Fitzhugh Lee. Both parties were dismounted and fought desperately.
The Confederates lost nearly eight hundred men, and the Nationals about one half that number.
This success inspirited the army, and it was followed by a reconnoissance in force,
in which
Wright moved on Hanover Court-House;
Hancock marched from
Hawes's store in the same direction;
Warren pushed out toward Bethesda Church, and
Burnside held a position to assist either
Hancock or
Warren.
The right and rear were covered by
Wilson's cavalry.
This movement quickly developed
Lee's position, which was in front of the
Chickahominy, and covering the railway from well up toward Hanover Court-House, southward to
Shady Grove and the
Mechanicsville pike, with pickets toward Bethesda Church.
Wright reached Hanover Court-House without much opposition, but the march of both
Hancock and
Warren was arrested
by strong forces in advance of
Lee's line.
The former was checked at Tolopatomoy Creek, after a sharp encounter, by intrenched troops; and the latter encountered
Rodes's division of
Ewell's corps, with cavalry, reconnoitering near Bethesda Church.
These struck the flank of
Colonel 
